Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-15
SOLDIERS PSALM.
rHS TINT, 1Hg MARCH, AND rHR
VICTORY.
The fermon OF Rev. Or. Moses D. Hogs
at the Lse-camp Chapel
Dedication.

Hogc delivered last Sunday at the
dedication OF Lee-Camp chapel:
Pealm lxxxiv., l." How amiable are Thy
tabernaclee, Lord Of Ilostsln
The S4th Psalm is the soldiers Psalm.
II is full Of illusions 20 the tent, the
march, the victory. IL tells us of the
shield beneath which the imperilled
find safety; of the supplies provided
for the furnishing OF the Refreshments
promised 10 the way-worn and weary
Of the strength impaired TO the enfce-
bled, and of the ultimate glory Of the
Church militant under the guidance Of
the Great Captain of Salvation.
Tie whole passage Of ancient Israel
from Egypt to Canaan was a military
march. The life they led in the wilder
ness was camp life. The ten tribes
moved forward each under its own
banner hut all under the command of
ono leader, twice distinguished in this
Psalm by the majestic title. Lord
God of Hosts. ruling in the armies OF
Heaven, marShalling His forces on
cath for the overthrow OF his enemies.
SO impressive was the sight that
when the hostile King of Moab ordered
The traitorous phophet Balaam to curse
Israel, and when from some command
ing height he caught a view of the en-
csmpment spread ont beneath, in spite
of himself he cried, Glow goodly are
thy tents. q Jacob, and thy tabernacles,
q Israel
But in the centre of the camp there
was one tent conspicuous among all the
rest. This was the holy tabernacle,
which contained the ark and the mercy
seat with the overshadowing cherubim
and the shechinah flaming with the
glory of the Lord. To this tabernacle
all the tribes came up to worship.
THEIR CAMP
would not have been complete without
IL. It was the source of their strength
and safety, OF their peace and JOY. 1t
was their spiritual home, where they
received their Fathers blessing, and
where they learned to regard Him as a
better inheritance than Canaan itself,
with all its water-brooks and fruitful
wales and vine-clad hills.
BY a natural and easy transition we
apply this Psalm to the circumstances
and to the Office of this hour. 1t does
not suffice for all the needs Of the little
band OF war-impoverished veterans
gathered here that the gratitude OF
their cCuntrymen has provided for thcm
a commodious central ediiice, with
its surrounding array of com
Portable cottages, which We call
"1he Soldiers Home" That
which completes and crowns the
work is the Soldiers chapel, which
We dedicate to-day. 4 camp like tn,
without a chapel would be like q p.i-
waite home without family altar, like
n household without religion. like a
heart without the recognition OF God.
1t was well indeed 10 make provision |
for the bodily necessities of the manned |
and battle-scarred men, grown prcma |
tUroly decrepid and Old, through the |
priyations and exposures of war; bIt |
there are higher and more enduring !
needs than those OF the body for |
which provision is required. | know
Of nothing more impressive than |
The fact that the perishablc clay tene-
meut which constitutes the physical
man is animated by an ethereal spirit,
rational. accountable, immortal, des-
tined TO survive not only the stroke of
death. but the shattcring and the
destruction of the whole material uni
verse. As creatures of earth and time
we have many wants, and for the COM
fort Of natural life there are many
things desirable, but as candidates for
I'D eternal existence there is but one in
necessity for the soul-par-
don of sin, peace with God, preparation
for judgment, and an eternity Of glory.
attach as much Importance as any
one TO the propriety of making all the
provision possible for the comfort Of
the
OLD CONFEDERATE SOLDIER
Who. remembering what his coun-
try was to him and all that made
it dear as the place of his birth and of
his most hallowed associations, the
place where his mother lived and where
each returning spring renews the grass
and flowers which cover her grave, the
place where grew up the maiden of his
early love who became the mother of
his own children. the country whose
laws protected him, the renown of
whose patriots and sages filled him with
iTrepressible pride, and who, loving it
because of ties like these, did for his
country what lie would have done for
his mother or his wife had her honor
been assaIled or her safety imperiled,
in springipg forward for its defence, in
ease, security. health, wealth,
and life, If need be, and counting the
sacrifice as nothing in a cause SO sacred.
pray for the coming of the day
when nations shall learn war no more,
but while injustice, aggression, and dis
regard for the rights and Liberties of
others determine the policy Of ambi-
tiOus and INSCRIPTIONS courts and cabi-
nets so long must the soldier march in
front Of the civilization Of the world for
It's protection and salvation.
Those who reap the benefits og his
self sacrifice must recompense him, not
only with their plaudits, but with their
support when he con no
longer provide for himself He has
earned his night to such recognition and
reward by unmistakable signs. 1t may
be questioned whether other men have
done their duty; no one can doubt
him. The proof is there whenever YOU
COX at him. The empty sleeve tells
he whole story his battlescarred face
s the demonstration.
Let it not he said that republics are
more ungrateful than monarchies.
some monarchies. at least. are not un-
,ratcfnl to the soldier who has vindi- 7
ated their honor by land or to the
silor who has fringed their flag with
Tory on sea.
on THE BANKS OF THAMES
Glow London lies the parliamentary '
Borough Of Greenwich, where Henry ,
Ill. and Queen Elizabeth were born.
'ou may remember the account which
dacaulay gives of the origin of the
magnificent home which England pro- /
ided for her seamen there. King
William III. entertained most ardent '
Election for his wife, Queen Mary, and 7
Vben she died he erected monument
o her memory. the noblest ever reared
~ an English king She had often sug-
yested TO him the wish that was near her
leart of converting Greenwich Palace
n "a a rafraaf for i IL ~